The Vanderbilt football team has not yet announced a starting quarterback ahead of its opener against Virginia Tech; Diego Pavia “or” Nate Johnson are at the top of the roster released Tuesday.
Coach Clark Lea has indicated he won’t name a starter until the team faces the Hokies on Saturday (11 a.m. CT, ESPN). Pavia is widely considered the No. 1 quarterback and was named a captain. Pavia transferred from New Mexico State to join his former head coach Jerry Kill and offensive coordinator Tim Beck, whom Lea hired in the offseason.
Pavia led the Aggies to an upset win over Auburn a year ago. Johnson is also a transfer and comes to the team from Utah.
De’Marion Thomas as Nose Tackle
Sophomore De’Marion Thomas won the nose tackle job over German Yilanan Ouattara. Thomas was consistently a productive player in the spring and preseason, but Ouattara has long been praised for his potential.
Also listed as an inside defensive tackle is MTSU transfer Zaylin Wood. He was more of a pass rusher with the Blue Raiders, but since pass rush specialists Miles Capers and Khordae Sydnor are also among the Commodores’ top linemen, Wood’s shift inside allows the team to use all three players at once.
Freshman Glenn Seabrooks of Davidson Academy also made the two-deep. He was listed among three options separated by “or” as defensive tackle: Christian James and Devin Lee.
MORE ABOUT PAVIA How Vanderbilt football transfer Diego Pavia’s relentless competitive spirit landed in Nashville
Richie Hoskins a starting receiver
Richie Hoskins, who joined the team as a walk-on from Division III Middlebury College in 2022, was listed as one of three starting receivers alongside Junior Sherrill and Quincy Skinner Jr.
The three replacement receivers listed were Loic Fouonji, who transferred from Texas Tech, and Landon Wells, as well as freshman Tristen Brown.
Experience dominates the offensive
Deflin Xavier Castillo and Kevo Wesley, both long-time players under Lea, were listed as starting guards. UTEP transfer Steven Hubbard and returner Gage Pitchford will serve as backups.
Steven Losoya, who transferred from Mississippi State, was listed as the center, with Cade McConnell of Minnesota serving as the backup. As expected, Chase Mitchell, who transferred from Liberty, and Gunnar Hansen, who returns as a returner, were listed as tackles.
De’Rickey Wright on Dontae Carter as Safety
Freshman Dontae Carter, Vanderbilt’s top recruit for 2024, is not listed as a starter at safety. Instead, the Commodores are relying on veteran De’Rickey Wright alongside CJ Taylor. Carter, who was named a True Freshman Preseason All-American by 247Sports, could still earn the starting spot down the road if he plays well.
Transfer starters could be available in twelve positions
Of the 30 positions listed in the rankings – the offense listed a fullback among the 11 traditional positions, and there were seven special teams positions listed – 12 of them had a transfer player listed as either a primary starter or co-starter.
Vanderbilt listed Eli Stowers (transfer from New Mexico State) as a co-starter at tight end, Randon Fontenette (transfer from TCU) at the hybrid position of linebacker/safety “star”, Kolbey Taylor (transfer from Wyoming) at cornerback, Jesse Mirco (transfer from Ohio State) at punter and holder and Julian Ashby (transfer from Furman) at long snapper.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Reach her at [email protected] or via X, formerly Twitter. @aria_gerson.
